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how to choose a stand up paddle board

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Published on Sunday, 14 October 2018 06:17

How to choose a stand up paddle board (SUP)?

The Stand up paddle board (Sup) market is growing very fast, and the offer is getting bigger and bigger. It’s not always easy to choose your board. The SoulKite Sup team will help you to select the best sup board

Before buying your stand up paddle board, you need to thinks about different aspects:

1- What kind of Sup style and conditions

Recreational stand up paddle beginner level

You are riding 1 or 2 hours per day on flat water. You will need a board with a lot of stability. That is a board wide and thick. The paddle can be adjustable or fixed paddle. Very important, don’t forget your leash when you do stand up paddle.

Recreational stand up paddle advanced level

You are riding more than 2 hours per day on flat water. You are going for long distance, or Sup tours. You will need a board with nice glide. Your board will be long, profiled and lightweight. Very important, don’t forget your leash when you do stand up paddle.

Racing stand up paddle board

You are looking for speed on flat water. You are going for long distance, or Sup tours. You will need a board with nice glide. Your board will be long, profiled and lightweight. For racing, having a carbon paddle, very stiff, is a plus. Very important, don’t forget your leash when you do stand up paddle.

Stand up paddle wave riding beginner

You are going on the ocean, looking for small wave, up to 3feets. You will need stability. You will be looking for a stand up paddle board short, wide, with a lot of rocker (the rocker is the curve of the sup board, the “banana shape” of the board, ). Very important, don’t forget your leash when you do stand up paddle.

Stand up paddle board wave riding advanced

You are going on the ocean, looking for wave, big and small. You will need speed and manoeuvrability. You will be looking for a stand up paddle board shorter, thinner, with a lot of rocker (the rocker is the curve of the sup board, the “banana shape” of the board, ). Very important, don’t forget your leash when you do stand up paddle.

2- Your weight/size and or level of riding

Our Sup instructors will give you the advices which will guarantee a perfect stability and floatability, depending on your level of practice and the spot where you will go. You won’t need the same board if you go stand up paddle boarding in Scarborough, Margaret river, or at Point Walter reserve or the Swan river in Perth.

Flat water recreational boards

<60kg 60-80kg >80kg

Open water racing sup board

60-90kg

Wave riding boards beginners

60-90kg

3- The construction of the board

I can choose my stand up paddle board because of the construction of the board. We have rigid stand up paddle board, and inflatable stand up paddle board.

Rigid boards, made of epoxy or carbon, will have a better glide, but will take more space, and more fragile. You will need some roof rack to carry it, and make sure you take care of it; be careful it you have a dog, kids, or if you want to leave your board for too long in the sun.

There are 3 main advantages of inflatable board. The inflatable sup is very solid, almost unbreakable. You won’t injure yourself if you fall on it, and it fits in a backpack, very easy to travel with. If you go camping, if you have a boat, or if you have kids and dogs, I definitely recommend this kind of boards.

Marty, manager of SoulKite Stand up paddle school: “ We have been using inflatable sup boards at the school for the last 5 years. Some boards are still in the school, as they are super resistant, and lot of fun. Very stable, you can play on them, bring the dog for a tour, or do yoga. Very comfy and light, the 10’6 Red paddle is by far my favourite boards. The paddle board of the family. If you are wondering where you can buy a stand up paddle board, or which sup board should I buy, come to see me at Point Walter. You will be able to try the boards, feel the difference”

How to choose your paddle

Depending on my level

I am a beginner; I will go for a aluminium paddle, with a blade stable in the water. Aluminium paddle are often pretty cheap, and very solid.

I am an advanced rider; I will buy a paddle fiberglass or carbon. The difference will be the level of stiffness on the shaft. The paddle is also lighter, so more performance.

The type of the paddle

The paddle are fixes, adjustable, in one or 3 pieces.

Adjustable paddle are very convenient; you can adjust the size of the paddle, so you can borrow your sup to your friend or family.

3 pieces paddle are adjustable, and can ssplit in 3 parts, so easy to carry and store.

Fixed paddle are design for only one person. There are mostly lighter than adjustable paddle.

If you have any questions on how to choose your sup board, to have stand up paddle lessons, to hire a sup board in Perth, feel free to contact us anytime or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Soulkite

Soulkite is a kitesurfing school based in Fremantle near Perth, Western Australia. According to the wind direction, we give kitesurfing lessons in these locations : Point Walter and Applecrosson the Swan river.

We offer kitesurfing and stand up paddle board lessons near Perth for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders.